Verizon Galaxy Nexus Android 4.3 Update: Big Red Sidesteps Question and Offers Little Hope of a Timely Rollout

It's well known that Nexus devices tend to receive Android updates first, but as many consumers who purchased a Galaxy Nexus from Verizon Wireless have found out, the update process can be greatly hindered by a carrier. Despite the fact that unlocked Samsung Galaxy Nexus devices already have an Android 4.3 OTA upgrade available to them, Verizon Galaxy Nexus owners are still waiting on the same firmware. Here's what Big Red has to say about that.

Verizon has been incredibly slow when it comes to rolling out new updates for its Galaxy Nexus device. In the past, the carrier has often lagged by months, creating an aura of frustration among users. Verizon has still not issued an official statement regarding an Android 4.3 update for the Galaxy Nexus, and a member of the customer support team sidestepped the question in an early September response on the company's support forums by responding that "multiple software updates [are] unnecessary."

"The Galaxy Nexus is easily one of my favorite smartphones. With its ease of use and vanilla operating system, what's there not to love! While the updates are originated from the manufacturer, Google, the Nexus delivered on its promise, which is a vanilla operating system. There's no doubt that software updates can be exciting but the main reason for most updates is to resolve known issues with the performance of the device. Our devices are test vigorously to ensure that they will work as promise, thus making a multiple software updates unnecessary. If you feel that this is not the case then please advise as we want you to love your device and the experience that the Nexus provides."

Considering Android 4.3 can and does run on Galaxy Nexus hardware, it's hard to see Verizon completely shelving the update. Instead, the network will most likely do what it always does — make its customers wait until the last second for Android updates, prompting one forum member to put in this rather adequate request:

"Hey Verizon, can you start working on, "Optimizing the 4.4 software," for us NOW, even though the software is specifically created for our devices, so I don't have to wait until 2015?"